Electrical and Computer Engineering
OPTICS & OPTOELECTRONICS
Optics is the science of bending and focusing light, which allows us to send signals and create images. Such technology can be used to concentrate sunlight for solar cells or project blockbuster films on the big screen.
Optical and electromagnetic engineers design a variety of everyday technologies including: medical imaging systems, fiber optic cables, lasers, virtual reality headsets, etc.
Suggested Coursework
The following are suggested Programs of Study for a graduate student pursuing an MS degree with an emphasis in Optics & Optoelectronics. It is not required that students follow any of these course schedules, but for students to use these as a guide. So long as degree requirements are met, any ECE or allied graduate coursework (5000- level or above) may be substituted.
Traditional MS
3 Semesters | 1-1.5 Years
These Programs of Study meet Coursework option requirements for a full-time student and can easily be adapted to the Project option. Students completing the Thesis option must meet with the Graduate Student Coordinator to create their academic plan.
Accelerated MS
3 Semesters | 1 Year
This Program of Study meets the requirements for the Project Option for a full-time student (9.0+ per term).
Part-Time MS
*Graduate seminar credits may be completed in any order within a student’s first academic year in the program.
5 Semesters | 2-2.5 Years
A schedule like this is for students who are currently working and don’t have the capacity to be full-time students but feel capable of managing a steady pace of courses (2 per semester).
Coursework
| Semester | Courses | Credits |
| 1 | 3 | 7.0* |
| 2 | 3 | 7.0* |
| 3 | 2 | 6.0 |
| 4 | 2 | 6.0 |
| 5 | 2 | 6.0 |
| TOTAL | 12 | 32.0 |
Summer Project
| Semester | Courses | Credits |
| 1 | 3 | 7.0* |
| 2 | 3 | 7.0* |
| 3 | 2 | 6.0 |
| 4 | 2 | 6.0 |
| Summer | Project | 4.0 |
| TOTAL | 10 | 30.0 |
9 Semesters | 4 Years
A reduced and extended part-time schedule of 8 semesters of coursework, with 1 course per term, and a summer project.
Year 1
| Semester | Credits |
| Fall |
4.0* |
| Spring |
4.0* |
Year 2
| Semester | Credits |
| Fall |
3.0 |
| Spring |
3.0 |
Year 3
| Semester | Credits |
| Fall |
3.0 |
| Spring |
3.0 |
| Summer |
4.0 – Project |
Year 4
| Semester | Credits |
| Fall |
3.0 |
| Spring |
3.0 |
| TOTAL |
30.0 |
Default Supervisory Committee
For students completing the coursework or project options
Berardi Sensale-Rodriguez
Associate Professor
- Phone: 801-585-5657
- Email: berardi.sensale@utah.edu
- Office: MEB 2134
- Website: Prof. Sensale's Profile
EM and optics: terahertz technology, high frequency electronics, two dimensional materials, active metamaterials, plasmonics, and nanophotonics
Steve Blair
Professor
- Phone: 801-585-6157
- Email: blair@ece.utah.edu
- Office: MEB 3236
- Website: Prof. Blair's Profile
Optics and photonics: physics and applications of resonance phenomena and linear and nonlinear optical phenomena, specifically; resonance enhancement in fluorescence-based molecular transduction, kinetics of bi-molecular interactions, microfabricated optical biosensor array systems, design of periodic and aperiodic systems of artificial resonators, and plasmonics-nanophotonic systems based on metallic structures
Rajesh Menon
USTAR Professor
- Phone: 801-585-1058
- Email: rmenon@eng.utah.edu
- Office: MEB 2256
- Website: Prof. Menon's Profile
Optics and nanotechnology: absorbance modulation optical lithography, patterning via optical saturable transitions, optical nanoscopy, and ultra-high frequency solar energy via a nanostructured polychromatic concentrator